France: India Loves Us, It Loves Us Not

A day after Eurocopter said it had received no notice of cancellation of India's order for 197 AS355s, France's foreign minister conceded the deal is off. Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told Agence France-Presse the $600 million order for light utility helicopters for India's Army had been canceled officially, but Eurocopter would re-bid. "We have been told by the Indian government that the bidding process has to be launched again because of procedural details," Kouchner said. "We will win the new bidding process." AFP said the final signing of the deal was supposed to be a highlight of French President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to India next month. For related news